The Native Village of Goodnews Bay, under joint management by the Alaska Rural Utility Collaborative. Most residential and commercial customers are connected to the new surface water sanitation infrastructure. Local leaders believe will improve public health. Most residential structures are now plumbed. A piped water and gravity sewer system with plumbing for 70 + homes is completed.

RUBA Status & Activities This Qtr:

RUBA staff has provided ordinance templates for Public Safety/VPSO's, election templates, descriptions of responsibilities for council members and mayor.

RUBA Activities for the Coming Qtr:

RUBA will maintain contact with the ANTHC Alaska Rural Utility Collaborative and provide assistance upon request

Scores:

Essential Indicators:

25 of
26

Sustainable Indicators:

27 of
27

Total Score:

52 of
53

Finances

Essential Indicators

Answer

Question

Yes

All revenues and expenses for the utility are listed in the utility budget.

Yes

The utility has adopted a balanced realistic budget.

Yes

Monthly financial reports are prepared and submitted to the policy making board.

Yes

The utility is current in paying all water/wastewater electric bills.

Yes

The utility has on hand a year's adequate fuel supply or it has a financial plan to purchase an adequate supply.

Yes

The utility is receiving revenues (user fees or other sources) sufficient to cover operating expenses.

The waste/wastewater utility is jointly managed by the tribal council for the Native Village of Goodnews Bay and the Alaska Rural Utility Collaborative (ARUC). The current utility budget is balanced and realistic. Year to date revenues from October 2012-November 2012 1$6,621.26 operations. Total Expenses through November 2013 is 15,136.70, with net income of $1,492.56 with a collection rate of 102%.

Accounting Systems

Essential Indicators

Answer

Question

Yes

The utility has adopted a collection policy and actively follows it.

Yes

The utility bills customers on a regular basis.

Yes

An accounts receivable system is in place which tracks customers and reports past due accounts and amounts.

Yes

An accounts payable system is in place.

Yes

The payroll system correctly calculates payroll and keeps records.

Yes

A cash receipt system is in place that records incoming money and how it was spent.

Yes

The utility has a cash disbursement system that records how money was spent.

Sustainable Indicators

Answer

Question

Yes

A chart of accounts is used that identifies categories in a reasonable, usable manner.

Yes

Monthly bank reconciliations have been completed for all utility accounts.

Yes

The utility has a purchasing system that requires approval prior to purchase, and the approval process compares proposed purchases to budgeted amounts.

Accounting Systems Comments

ARUC bills customers consistently. ARUC operates under an agreement with the village council and a water/wastewater ordinance that includes a collections policy. Revenues are exceeding expenditures this quarter. ARUC maintains a worker's compensation policy and uses computerized accounting to monitor and track finances. ARUC maintains accounting records including accounts payable, receivable, and payroll under direction of a utility manager based in their central office in Anchorage. ARUC maintains a chart of accounts, reconciles bank accounts, and utilizes a purchasing system that requires approval prior to purchase.

Tax Problems

Essential Indicators

Answer

Question

Yes

The utility has a system to accurately calculate, track, and report payroll tax liabilities.

No

The utility is current on filing tax reports.

Yes

The utility is current on making tax deposits.

N/A

If there are any past due tax liabilities or recorded tax liens, a lien release has been issued or a repayment agreement has been signed and repayments are current.

Tax Problems Comments

On 12/21/12 the Alaska Department of Labor (DOL) reported that Goodnews Bay is compliant in meeting Alaska ESC tax obligations through 9/30/2011, On 12/05/12 The Taxpayer Advocate deemed Goodnews Bay compliant. Goodnews Bay is not listed in The Small Community Tax Lien List. ARUC uses accounting software to process payroll out of their Anchorage office.

Personnel System

Essential Indicators

Answer

Question

Yes

The utility has a posted workers compensation insurance policy in effect.

Sustainable Indicators

Answer

Question

Yes

The utility has adopted and uses a Personnel Policy, which has been reviewed by an attorney, AML or Commerce for topics and language.

Yes

The utility has adequate written job descriptions for all positions.

Yes

The utility has adopted and follows a written personnel evaluation process that ties the job description to the evaluation.

Yes

The utility has an adequate written hiring process.

Yes

The utility has personnel folders on every employee that contain at least: I-9, Job Application and Letter of Acceptance.

Yes

The utility has a probationary period for new hires that includes orientation, job training/oversight, and evaluations.

Yes

The utility provides training opportunities to staff as needed and available.

Personnel System Comments

Workers compensation insurance coverage per the Division of Worker's Compensation web site verified Goodnews Bay coverage is provided by Alaska Municipal League Joint Insurance Company and is active on 12/21/2012. ARUC abides by a comprehensive personnel policy, maintains personnel folders, utilizes a probationary period for new hires, and provides training opportunities to staff. Water operator staff duties include washeteria maintenance; however, ARUC reports that the associated costs of such work are covered in full by the Native Village of Goodnews Bay.

Organizational Management

Essential Indicators

Answer

Question

Yes

The entity that owns the utility is known; the entity that will operate the utility is set.

Yes

The policy making body is active in policy making of the utility.

Yes

The policy making body enforces utility policy.

Yes

The utility has an adequately trained manager.

Yes

The utility has an adequately trained bookkeeper.

Yes

The utility has an adequately trained operator or operators.

Yes

The utility has adopted the necessary ordinances (or rules and regulations) necessary to give it the authority to operate.

Sustainable Indicators

Answer

Question

Yes

The utility has adopted an organizational chart that reflects the current structure.

Yes

The policy making body meets as required.

Yes

The utility complies with the open meeting act for all meetings.

Organizational Management Comments

ARUC oversees water/wastewater utility management with the village council through a written, contractual agreement. Although ARUC enforces utility policy, it continues seeing a low collection rate. According to the agreement, ARUC is to meet with an advisory council that includes representation from the community. A water/wastewater ordinance is in place. ARUC continues managing utility billing and collection services. The water operator is trained. The Native Village of Goodnews Bay reportedly operates a community washeteria with financial contributions from the City of Goodnews Bay and assistance from the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.

Operation of Utility

Essential Indicators

Answer

Question

Yes

The utility operator(s) are actively working towards necessary certification.

Yes

The utility has a preventative maintenance plan developed for the existing sanitation facilities.

Sustainable Indicators

Answer

Question

Yes

The manager receives a monthly O&M report from the utility operator and routinely "spot checks" the facilities to see that the maintenance items are being completed.

Yes

The utility has a safety manual and holds safety meetings.

Yes

Utility facilities have not suffered any major problems/outages due to management issues that are unresolved.

Yes

The utility is operating at the level of service that was proposed.

Yes

The operator provides status reports to the manager on a routine basis.

Yes

The utility has completed and distributed its "Consumer Confidence Report".

Yes

The utility is not on the "Significant Non-Complier" (SNC) list.

Yes

The utility maintains an inventory control list.

Yes

The utility maintains a critical spare parts list.

Operation of Utility Comments

The primary water operator possesses required certification. The operator utilizes a preventative maintenance plan and provides reports to the ARUC utility manager. Goodnews Bay is not listed in the Significant Non-Complier (SNC) list.